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I am passionate about using graphic and document design as a tool for effective communication.
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You need graphic & document designs to tell your story - I'll make sure it's told well.

24/09/2026

Pretty sure today was the most fun these Minnesota State Mankato students have ever had with a graphic designer! (It's probably the only fun they've ever had with a graphic designer, but that's not important.)

Many thanks to Dr. Shane Bowyer for the opportunity to come talk with Integrated Business Experience students about logos and branding. It's always so fun to hear about what these students are up to, see their ideas in the works, and give them my two cents.

Remember, kids: consistency is next to godliness. Good luck with your projects - thanks for all your work raising money for some very important local organizations!

10/09/2026

What you're using is fine.

It does the job, it communicates what you need to, and it looks just fine.

But what if you elevated from fine to on-brand? To engaging? To thoughtfully created with your customer in mind?

Kelli with Natural Remedy Wellness used the second image as an insert with the kit she sends to her clients. There was nothing *wrong* with it, but it could be better. So, we:

--made it visually recognizable by bringing in her brand colors and fonts.
--used consistent design elements across her suite of marketing pieces so everything is cohesive and familiar to her clients and potential clients.
--rewrote the language to be warmer, more personable, and more clear... more true to Kelli and how she runs her business.
--designed it with how she actually uses it in mind: she folds it in half and sticks it into the envelope, so I made sure the text didn't overlap the fold. (The professionalism is in the details.)

The result is what you see in the first image. It's warm, calm, and professional. It feels thoughtful and invokes trust. There was nothing wrong with what Kelli was using before, but what she has now is more aligned with how she wants to present her business to the people that are most important to it: her clients.

Is it time to elevate your client communications? Let's talk about it. [email protected]

09/09/2026

You come to me for the first time, and you want me to design a brochure. Or a logo. Or whatever. I don't know anything about your business. I don't know who you serve, what you sell, or the story behind why you do what you do. I have a lot to learn.

So, I ask every client that starts work with me to complete a questionnaire that walks me through everything I need to know. Then, we have an in-depth consultation to talk through what I learned about you, how it applies to your project, and what it looks like to work with me.

Why do I do this?? Why... even when you're busy and have a million things on your plate and you don't want to answer a bunch of questions... do I start every client relationship this way? Because:

🏃‍♀️‍➡️The more I know at the beginning, the better job I can do with less input/feedback from you. Basically, it helps me hit the ground running and you can keep doing what you do best while I take the project off your plate.

🤝We start work on the same page. You know that I understand what you are looking for, and you can be confident that you just handed off a task on your to-do list to someone who genuinely cares about how well it gets done.

💻It gives me something to refer back to as I work. Your words. Your thoughts. Your input on how I can best communicate your products and services.

💡I can help you think about how this project fits into your overall marketing goals, and I'll raise points or ideas you maybe hadn't considered.

👊AND it helps us build a relationship to where you have a designer and communicator on your team who knows your business inside and out, without the financial commitment of a full-time employee.

So that's why I thoughtfully and intentionally require this of my new clients. I want the best outcome, and that comes from a strong start. Check out the tool online at bluesundesigns.com/workwithme

03/09/2026

A new program. An existing brand.

The City of Mankato added a new advertising program within their Parks Department this summer. Businesses can advertise at City-owned parks, including softball fields and tennis courts for now, but will expand to include other facilities in the future. As I designed, I kept these things in mind:

--They needed a logo that shows a lighter, more playful side while still making a strong connection to the City of Mankato.
--The logo needed to fit within the existing branding the City uses for parks and other marketing.
--Clarity and simplicity were important - they need advertisers to know that this is an official program run by the City.
--And the logo needed to grow with them as they expand the program.

When you need a new logo to fit into existing branding, I can help with that! Let's get started. [email protected]

Side note: if you want to advertise your business through the City of Mankato's Outdoor Rec Advertising program, you can find more information here: www.mankatomn.gov/about-mankato/business/outdoor-recreation-advertising

01/09/2026

AI has its place. It's doing incredible things in the medical field, it's a useful tool for checking tedious tasks off your list in a hurry, and I understand why people use it for creating graphics. But sometimes, it misses the mark. By a lot.

That's what happened for this professor and researcher - she was trying to get AI to create an illustration of a concept she's been working on. She uploaded her hand-drawn version and asked AI to make a professional version. No matter the prompts she used, the corrections she tried to give, she just wasn't able to get it to create the model she had in mind.

She sent me her hand drawing and the model that AI spit out, and I was able to create exactly what she had in mind with way less frustration than she had experienced using AI. In addition to creating a model that explains her concept well, I also thought to consider things like color contrast to ensure that the illustration is accessible to people with vision impairments.

AI is missing a human element. It's lacking the part that hears, understands, and interprets what you MEAN... instead it just applies the words you're saying. I'll listen to understand what you're looking for, and work hard to make sure I'm hitting the mark for you. I care that the outcome is exactly what you need, and I consider aspects you maybe haven't thought of.

AI has its place. But when you want something unique and made with human thought and care, I've got you. [email protected]

27/08/2026

Have you had a chance to check out my new website? Months in the making, this site beautifully highlights some of my favorite projects and how I work with businesses and organizations to help them tell their story well.

Take a look, and please share with people who could use a human touch to make their communications more effective.

www.bluesundesigns.com

25/08/2026

✨A refresh!✨

Some of the signs at Rasmussen Woods in Mankato are looking a little dated and tired from years in the sun, rain, and snow. I'm working with staff at the City of Mankato to not only update the look, but also simplify them:

🌳 A more modern and clean look guides the reader to what's important and keeps the focus on the information park users need to know.
🗺 An updated, larger, and more user-friendly map includes distances and other details.
🚯 Park rules are front-and-center rather than tucked in a corner.
🗣 Icons and multiple languages make the information accessible to more users.

Are your communications hitting the mark and doing their job? If not, let's talk about how we can make them better! [email protected]

Pictured in this post: 1. The new sign in place at the Upper Meadow entrance of Rasmussen Woods. 2. The new sign artwork. 3. The old sign that we replaced.

19/08/2026

Do the materials you use in your business match your level of expertise?

Like Eric of Hudspith Education and Leadership Solutions, you're an expert in your field. You know your stuff inside and out... but do your handouts look like it?

The handouts Eric had for his presentations were just fine (see images 3 & 4). But they were basic, default, and without cohesion and branding. I took his content and applied layouts that implemented consistent fonts, colors, and icons so his materials are easy to use, recognizable, and on-brand (see images 1 & 2). Now Eric is excited to use documents that represent him as the expert he is.

Your time, design knowledge, and basic word processing software only get you so far. They've been doing some heavy lifting for a while now. Maybe it's time you level up and let me take over and design materials that make you proud. 🤔

Let's talk about it: [email protected]

18/08/2026

I believe in using the time and talent you have to make an impact where you can.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that works hard to empower voters through voter education and engagement. I get to be a part of that mission through my membership, and my contribution is to use my skills and software to:

🤝 Engage voters
🗣️ Communicate important information
📈 Make the complicated pieces of elections easier to understand

I designed as well as helped curate and simplify the information for these three coordinating pamphlets. They tell the story of voting and elections in Minnesota in a clear and concise way, and direct readers to reliable sources for more information.

Initially, they were intended for the Mankato Area League of Women Voters, but the state-wide organization saw them and jumped on board too! A lot of hard work, passion, and attention to detail went into writing, editing, and designing these.

(For more information about the League, send me a message. I'd love to help get you connected to our powerful work engaging Americans in our democracy.)

14/08/2026

What's that you say? Did I get a new website?? Why YES... yes, I did!

We still have some details to iron out, but I am so excited my new site is out in the world, ready for you to take a look.

www.bluesundesigns.com

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